Depression

Depression affects people in Australia every day. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with depression.

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Jeriava How do I talk to my doctor?
  • replies: 9

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really ... View more

I’ve been struggling with my life for the past 7-8 years but I finally made an appointment with a doctor. I feel really scared though because I don’t ever go to the doctor for anything, and I havent seen this doctor for so many years that I’m really scared that they’ll judge me or won’t believe anything I say. I’m really anti social so I feel like I won’t be able to say what I wanna say or I’ll say the wrong thing causing them to just dismiss me and move me along without helping. I’m just tired of feeling alone, depressed and just worthless but I’m really scared to talk to them.

Chris_B Are you looking to support someone else with depression? PLEASE READ before posting
  • replies: 0

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and f... View more

This forum is for people seeking support for their own mental health issues. If you're posting on behalf of someone else with a mental health issue that you're concerned about, please have a look at this section of our forums: Supporting family and friends with a mental health condition It's full of threads from people who have family members and friends going through anxiety, depression or other related conditions. Have a read through the threads there, and feel free to take part in the discussions. Below are also some helpful beyondblue resources you might want to look through first as well: Supporting someone Have the conversation

AGrace SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING DEPRESSION
  • replies: 132

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the ... View more

Hi Everyone, Here are some ideas you might like to try for managing symptoms of depression. Of course everyone's different, so let us know what works for you, and please feel free to add to the list... Mindfulness – through breathing or engaging the 5 senses Distress Tolerance – Accepting Emotions and Self Soothing Distraction – Put the thoughts/feelings aside and come back to them when you are ready to deal with them Positive Affirmations – Have some affirmations written down repeat them to yourself daily Sleep/Exercise/Diet – All 3 aspects of our lifestyle can impact the way we think/feel Increasing Pleasurable Activities – Engage in at least one pleasurable activity per day

All discussions

ShresthaR Eternal
  • replies: 2

Who am I? What am I? Where am I? I Don't know. I just don't know what my life has come to. I feel so lonely. I don't have any friends nor do I have any enemies. Feel like I'm drowning and I am struggling to breathe but yet I'm still breathing and I'm... View more

Who am I? What am I? Where am I? I Don't know. I just don't know what my life has come to. I feel so lonely. I don't have any friends nor do I have any enemies. Feel like I'm drowning and I am struggling to breathe but yet I'm still breathing and I'm still living. My mother died when I was 22 months old. An only child. Never knew her my whole life. She gave birth to me and suddenly died. My school years were the worst moments of my life. I got bullied regularly. Kids used to use me as a punching bag. When I joined hostel, bullying become so frequent and unbearable. the teachers even didn't listen to me. I thought once high school was over I would be free but once college started even then it didn't stopped. I even stayed hostel in college as well. but after I finished college life became lonely. I was happy in a way. Solitude was in a sense peaceful. But sometimes loneliness can be too much to handle and your parents start telling you: Do this, Do That, Don't do this, Don't do that. I'm sick and tired of everything that is happening in my life. Work and study is giving all kind of stress and anxiety I don't want. I just don't what I should do anymore.

saffy1703 Lost
  • replies: 3

I am posting this because I am stuck and lost on what to do. This past week I haven't been able to stop crying. I haven't gone one day with out balling my eyes out. I am 18 and live on my own moving countries for study at the start of the year. These... View more

I am posting this because I am stuck and lost on what to do. This past week I haven't been able to stop crying. I haven't gone one day with out balling my eyes out. I am 18 and live on my own moving countries for study at the start of the year. These past holidays I went overseas to see my extended family I haven't seen in years due to covid. Unfortunately I have still had to miss a wedding and other family events as I couldn't stay longer. I got back early Monday morning and went straight to course. I had a full on week of assessments and stress. I also stopped taking my pill 3 weeks ago because I didn't have enough for my extended week on holiday. I feel sad and down like I'm alone, I feel like I have no close friends, I have no energy or will do do anything I haven't even unpacked or cleaned my room, I'm seconding guessing my career option feeling like I'm not good enough, I just want a hug. I hope this feeling will pass but and the moment I just can't see that happening. Has anyone else been in a situation similar and has advice on what I should do. How to pick myself back up?

Stressed Guy My life feels like it's over
  • replies: 3

I feel like a complete and utter loser in life. I don't have a job, have never had a girlfriend or even been on a date. I'm so pissed off with how everything is progressing. I feel useless, hopeless and helpless to change my circumstances. It's like ... View more

I feel like a complete and utter loser in life. I don't have a job, have never had a girlfriend or even been on a date. I'm so pissed off with how everything is progressing. I feel useless, hopeless and helpless to change my circumstances. It's like I'm a mouse struggling to have that tiny, bit of cheese. I have to claw and scrap for every shred of happiness. I'm arguing with my parents recently and I'm just so over life. I have no one to talk to and feel so alone in this world. It would be better if I wasn't here anymore. Recently my mum and I have had arguments with my brothers and their partners and most of them have cut off contact with us. I don't believe life gets any better and if this is as good as it gets then I don't know what to do. My life is going nowhere, in fact it's like I'm constantly stuck in reverse. I've got uni online to look forward to in a few months and enjoy reading and writing. I can't exercise due to muscle problems. I could potentially have an autoimmune disease called myositis which can affect the muscles and organs but I'm not sure yet. I have recently stopped my meds as I went from 91.8 kilos to 109 kilos and am trying to lose weight. If I have this autoimmune disease then I would have to go on steroids which you guessed it, cause weight gain. I can't catch a break with anything, again I'm just so frustrated with everything. I'll be 29 in a few months and haven't lived up to my potential. I feel like a failure as a man and as a person. I never expected this back when I was a teenager. I've let myself down and everyone else around me. Also, I spend way too much money on claw machines as I'm addicted to them. I like winning from them as it's one of the few things I can do well. But when I lose I get frustrated. I don't have much of a life and honestly no one except for my parents would miss me if I'm gone. Sorry if this rant has gone on for too long. I needed to get this off my chest as there's no one I can confide in about any of this. Just over everything really. Also I know it's joy a smart idea to stop my meds but I want to lose weight and the psychiatrist who prescribed the tablets said "these have the least weight gain." This is a complete and utter lie as I've gained over 16 kilos since September when I first saw him. That's about it, thanks for reading.

R.Penn 32yo Unemployed and lost
  • replies: 1

Hi there, I feel depressed and isolated. I am 32 and have moved back and forth since the pandemic from Sunshine Coast to Brisbane back to the Sunshine Coast and then back again to Brisbane and then to Melbourne went into 5 month lockdown which was aw... View more

Hi there, I feel depressed and isolated. I am 32 and have moved back and forth since the pandemic from Sunshine Coast to Brisbane back to the Sunshine Coast and then back again to Brisbane and then to Melbourne went into 5 month lockdown which was awful in a sharehouse and then decided to come back closer to family in Brisbane but due to the rental crisis couldn’t find a house to live in for 6 months and now I have landed a lease at a caravan park for the next 5 months. No toilet or shower inside but an amenities block. I feel lucky to have found somewhere compared to people struggling to find rentals at the moment. I just have also been unemployed for nearly 2 years now due to the pandemic and my mental health declining again. I am currently accessing free online therapy through lifeline which is helpful and once a week. I just feel so alone in life. I have a friend in Brisbane but he works a lot and I can’t afford the drive down at the moment with fuel prices. Everything just feels super hard and then I can’t think of what work I want to be doing on top of all of this. I know I need to get income soon or else I will just end up homeless again. I don’t get to talk to many people on a daily basis its usually just me on my own. I see my sister 2- 3 times a week but I miss having good friends and some sort of place to show up to… I sound like I am complaining but I just struggle being on my own so much and feel like I am never going to find employment again… I am applying for support work again, but I have social anxiety and this work is rewarding but also stressful for me. I just don’t know what else I can do with my skills. Feeling pretty over things… I always think my ex would be laughing knowing I have failed so much. These are negative thoughts but I just want to improve my quality of life but I currently live in an isolating area with no friends to get coffee with… can anyone relate? I really want a nice home to live in one day, I am trying to stay grateful for the cabin (smells bad and burnt cigarettes in Lino everywhere from past tenant) I am in but its very old and no hot water or toilet/shower is a problem for me when I start work… the amenities block is a 5 min walk away but can get busy with only 2 showers. I am thankful to even have a hot shower but its expensive rent for what I am getting, am I being spoilt?

maddie_faye Relationship break bc of depression
  • replies: 2

Hi, not to long ago I did post a discussion titled ‘severely depressed boyfriend always busy’, just to give some background context my wonderful partner and I have been together since around September/ October last year and the first several months w... View more

Hi, not to long ago I did post a discussion titled ‘severely depressed boyfriend always busy’, just to give some background context my wonderful partner and I have been together since around September/ October last year and the first several months we used to see each other every weekend as he works full time and we live a fair distance a way but around March/ April this year his depression started to get really bad, which he told me has been diagnosed with when we first got together and he made himself really busy on weekends when we’d normally see each other, which I definitely suspect is due to his severe depression and making himself busy as a coping mechanism as he is not receiving any treatment. This was starting to negatively affect my own mental health as I have severe anxiety, depression and PTSD from a previous DV and SA relationship. I told him last week that I think we need to go on break and only seeing him once a month isn’t working atm and with his responses to what I said I could tell he was hurt and shocked and didn’t see it coming, as Mum explained he probably has a time fog from his depression but I could also see at the same time that he does love and care for me and the relationship so I really hope that this works out. Atm we are on break and I checked in with him a few days ago and he said that he’s the same as usual but also asked how I am, which I thought was really kind and considerate. For now we’ll probably only check in with each other once or twice a week and I’m not sure how long this break will last for but I have been feeling really depressed and emotional.

bentleyrover only happy and enjoy life when drinking
  • replies: 8

I used to drink daily which allowed me to be happy and enjoy life. I have never really like life or enjoy it general, that all I ever felt and feel since a child. Last year I stop drinking daily because at the same time as being happy and enjoying li... View more

I used to drink daily which allowed me to be happy and enjoy life. I have never really like life or enjoy it general, that all I ever felt and feel since a child. Last year I stop drinking daily because at the same time as being happy and enjoying life, I always dwell on everything bad that’s happen to me and dwell on the past. I am not social so I don’t have many friends. So I decided to stop drinking cause it was leading to suicidal thoughts during the down time with in reality was only 1 day out of the week compare to 6 days of drinking and being able to feel happy enjoying life and being social! But now I am even more Miserable since I stop drinking. The few friends I do have actually notice and see that difference. They tell me you are happy, you enjoy things, you life live. But when I don’t drink, I am miserable, and don’t enjoy anything and sleep a lot to escape that feeling

Iris-22 New Centrelink rules for jobseeker
  • replies: 2

Hi just wondering if anyone has had any experience with the new jobseeker rules which came into effect July 1 2022 ?I have had a medical certificate exemption for the last 9 months due to the effects of long standing anxiety and grief and I am due to... View more

Hi just wondering if anyone has had any experience with the new jobseeker rules which came into effect July 1 2022 ?I have had a medical certificate exemption for the last 9 months due to the effects of long standing anxiety and grief and I am due to enter the fray again in August. I am in my 60’s and also suffer from IBS and arthritis in hands, feet and knees, so generally life is painful and difficult Anyone know what I can expect? Thanks

Rod_NR93 Covid slump
  • replies: 3

Hi all I had been doing really well getting on top of my depression, then two weeks ago I got mild Covid. I largely recovered after about a week but still have some periodic fatigue. After the first week my mood began declining, as I expected it woul... View more

Hi all I had been doing really well getting on top of my depression, then two weeks ago I got mild Covid. I largely recovered after about a week but still have some periodic fatigue. After the first week my mood began declining, as I expected it would. While I now feel 99% better Covid wise, my mood is still down. Nothing serious but I thought it would improve as I physically recovered. Did any of you who had Covid with the mood slump find your mood improved again post Covid recovery? How long did it take?Many thanks

Mangogango Seeking advice on current situation
  • replies: 2

Hi all, my current situation is kinda of a dilemma for me so I was wondering if there were other ways to tackle it that haven't been known to me, I currently dealing with chronic depression for the majority of my life, 20s btw well anyways I need to ... View more

Hi all, my current situation is kinda of a dilemma for me so I was wondering if there were other ways to tackle it that haven't been known to me, I currently dealing with chronic depression for the majority of my life, 20s btw well anyways I need to seek help to get on anti depresssions but had an issue with my old GP and honestly a terrible experience so I was looking into going to another GP but anxiety is hitting hard and I was wondering if there was a way to get a new prescription without having seen a GP in person, I just can't bring myself to go down there, I have no support system and don't drive, honestly I tried the whole no pill thing for a good amount of time and I've come to conclusion for myself at least that I would need a support system for that or a non-abusive household. Also a bit of back story on family issue which honestly seems pretty doomed, Mother is a malignant narcissist, and my older sister is an undiagnosed schizophrenic, that yell cries every day, the icing on top is that they both are pathological liars and I just can't tell what is the truth most of the time so yeah, my sister also enables my mums abusive behavior which honestly is pretty defeating because my sister has also been abused by her, anyways how would you all tackle that drug issue and if you would like how would you deal the family issue.

CHUNKYMONKEY ZEKY
  • replies: 1

Hey guys, i like am totally depressed. Any help?

Hey guys, i like am totally depressed. Any help?